Motor-vehicle.



L. S. PFOUTS.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 5. 1913.

Patented July 2, 1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

www

L. S. PFOUTS.

MOTOR 4VEHICLE. APPLIoATxoN FILED 1mm, 191s.

Patented July 21, 1914 5 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

L. S. PFOUTS.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLIQATION FILED DBO. 5,'1913.

Patented July 21,1914

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

L. S. PFOUTS.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLIOATION FILED DBO. 5. 191s.

Patented July 2l, i914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

MMM@

Leray S. Pozus.

L. S. PPOUTS.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLIUATION FILED 1130.5. 191s.

1,101,446, Patented July 21, 1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET Snom/woz Leray S. Pfau ts,

C "muy LEROY S. PFOUTS, @Ff CANTON,0H-I0.

MOTOR-VEHICLE..

Lacune.

Specication of Lettere Eatent.

Application iled December 5; 11918. Sendling-'804,801'.

Patented July 21, 191 Il.

To cll'whom it may concern Be it known that I, LEROY S. Proms, a citizen of the United States, residing at Canton, in the county of Ohio, Motor-Vehicle, of which the followlng 1s a specification.

This invention relates to improvements 1n motor vehicles and especially to a form-of such vehicle particularly adapted forv delivery wagon purposes.

The objects of the invention are, to generally improve devices of the character mentioned, to provide a motor vehicle .of the delivery wagon type which may be controlled and operated either from the usual'drlvers seat at the front, or from the rear foot board, to improve the running gear and transmission, to improve the construction and arrangement of the parts of the vehicle l so as to increase accessibility of the load carried, and to generally increase the efficiency of motor delivery wagons by the novel arrangement and combination of elements or parts as hereinafter more clearly pointed out. These objects, together withv other objects readily apparent to those skilled in the art, may be attained by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, although the invention may be embodied in other forms, the construction illustrated being chosen by way of example.

1n the-drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a motor vehicle embodying my invention, the wheels on the near side being omitted. Fig. 2 is a top plan view ofthe vehicle, partly in horizontal section. Fig. 3 is a front elevation.v Fig. 4 is a rear elevation. Fig. 5 is a detail, from the rear, of the forward brake shaft and related parts, partly in section. Fig. 6 is a detail of the connection ybetween the forwardffoot-brakelever and main ,brake rod. -Fig- 7 is a detail, from the rear, of one of the'rear footbrake-levers. Fig. 8 is a detail, from thev top, of a portion `of the foot board and rear brake shafts. `Fig.9 is a detail, from the side, `,of one of the rear foot-brake-levers Vand its connections. ',Fig. 10 is a detail of' the controller actuating connection.

Throughout vthe `several viewsl similar -refJ erence,l numerals Indicate slmllar parts.v

The )fronti axle .1 'andl rearaxle 2 are of ywell ,knownfconsftru'ction, said yrear axle being "of "the""d`rop"type to permit the main floor 3 of the body to be hung low, Atrthe Stark and Stateof.- have invented a new and useful @ends offthe frontaxle the -front wheels d :are connected thereto by means ofthe well lknown yoke andv knuckle` construction '5. gThe' wheeled are guided by means of the usual-arms 6 which are provided with the mterconnecting spacing rod 7 -Upon'the front axle 1 are mounted the @semi-elliptic front springs-8, the forward" :lends .of which are connected to the forward supporting arms 9 fixedly connected to the Aifrance' 10. Said frame 10 extends for the gentire length of the vehicle and carries the :fbody which' consists of' a lower, relatively Snai-row portion and an upper, relatively wide portion. The lower, relatively narrow portion comprisesthe main floor 8, herein- ,before referred to and the sides 11 and front gend i12. rlhe rear ends of the springs 8 are connected by means of links 13 to brackets 14: .fixedlyattached to the front end 12. Upon the rear axle 2 are mounted the semi-elliptic rear springs 15, havingtheir upper ends slightly longitudinally adjustably connected 5to the frame 10 at 16'in any'well known mechanical manner.

The sides 11fextend upwardly' only to the .frame 10 and at the height of said frame the lload carrying floors 17, shown in dotted lines in Fig. textend outwardly, providing supports for crates of milk bottles or any other loadk intended to be carried. The upper sides 18, the front ends 19 and the rear ends 20-inclose the upper portion of the vehicle except the front entrance 21 and the rearentrance 22. From the ends 19 forwardly extends the drivers box provided witha door on a level with the frame 10 and its forward portion preferably inclined upwardly as at 23. @ver the main portion of the body is arranged the main roof or top 24 while the roof ortop 25 covers the drivers box. The dash `26 is arranged at the` forward end of the driverls box in the usual manner. The/'steps 27, of any suitable construction, llead-from the floor 3 to the l lnthe drivers'box is arranged the driver@ .Seat 29, referate to one side Aof the medial line of t e vehicle so as to permit freeen-- port 30of any suitable design 1n whichis Journaled the rotatable steering post 31 ro` vided at its upper end with the hand w eel 32 of usual construction, said wheel being convenientlyy positioned with reference tothe drivers seat 29. Extending downwardly below the floor ofithe drivers bo'x the post 31'is provided-at"it`s vlower end with the ixedly jmounted spiral gear 33 and worm 34. The lowerjendofthe, ost is journaled in the lower ange 35 -otP the bracket 36 `which is connected to the frame of the vehicle. f Preferably formed integrally' with said braclfxet 36isl the bracing flan e 37 provided .,at lower. end-'with the ox 38 in whichis .rotatably :mounted a short' shaft provided at its rear end with the ixedly mounted Iworm .wheel 39 vmeshin with the worm 34 and at its forward en twith the lixedly mounted crank 40 which extends downwardly, andj at its lower end is, operal tively connected to the bar 41, which extends -to"one side of the vehicle and is operatively connected with one of the arms 6. It will be understood ,from this descri tion that by.

ost 31 the ont wheels 4l Iliais portion of athe construc- Extending transversely 4to the re r of the bracket 36 is the shaft 42 which 'is provided, intermediate its .'ends, with the xedly mounted spiral gear 43 meshin with the spiralgear 33.I lAt each end of t e shaft 42 is also xedly mounted'a spiral gear 44, each ofjwhich gears meshes .with the spiral gear 45 xedly mounted on' :the/forward end of the auxiliary, horizontal steering post 46. One of said'auxili-ar posts'is' arranged bn one side of the vehic e and the other on the other side, 'saidrposts beingv rotatably mounted in suit-able boxes and'sald-p'osts heiniy provided at their. rear endswith' the auxi 'ary hand'A wheels 48 whichjarevertically disposed s distinguished from the horizontally disposed hand wheely 32.

It will be apparent from the above description that the front wheels may be guided by z -manipulationof the hand wheel 32 when the operator is in the drivers box or by manipu'si. lation of either offthe handwheels 48 whenE the operator is standing upon the foot-board 28 'at the rear of the vehicle. On each side v,of the vehicleintermediate 'the front and ypo'rt- .an electric motor and/intermediate 'saidm'otor and the rear `'wheel of the vehicle on that side. In' the drawings'it will be noted that the frame 51 extends downwardly from the bracket 49 and then rearwardly,to tli'axle 2 with which connection ismade in such manner that the thrust of the axle 2 -`whenrth'e rear drive wheels are rotated will betransmitted through the thrust frame 51 'tothe bracket 49, thus impellin'gthe vehicle; the point of application of thrust to the ve- 1hicle thus being intermediate the ront'fand rear wheels. f As the rear springs 15 are 'cmpressed underload, or when the vehicle is lrunning,`zpivotal connection at 50 will per-l 'mit the rear end of the thrust frame 51 to move up or downto correspond with the action vof the said springs.V w Connected to the frame 51, as by the bracket 52, is the motor 53 which is operativel connected by means of thechain 54 lwhic passes around the sprocket'55 which, @together :with the sprocket 56, is xedly mounted upon the lshaft 57 'journaled 1in the bearing connectedto the frame 51 by the bracket' 58;. The c ain 59 provides operative connection betwecnthe sprocket 56 and the sprocketf60 of the rear wheel and it will be understood thatby means of the mechanism just described the ear wheel may be driven lby the operation oil-.the motor 53. To supply Ithe motor with the necessary current a storage battery 61.l is mounted 'on the .side of the lower portionof the vehicle body at the forward end in any suitable `mechanical man ner, it being possible to.'I conveniently arrange said. storage battery within the general outline of the vehicle by reason of the narrowness of the lower portion of the vehicle body.- It will,':of'course;1 Ibe understood that the two sides ofthe :vehicle are" simi larly constructed, a battery, motor, gearing and thrust frame being arranged upon each of the'two sides of the body.

For the purpose of controllin v`the motors the controller 62 yis'provided, t e batteries, controller and motors being suitably electrically connected. No claim is herein made for the details of construction of said controller or the wiring of said batteries, controller and motors, and no further detail description is here deemed necessary.

-j -The controller isa-arranged just in front ofthe front end 12-and beneath the Hoor of the drivers" box and ,is provided with the controller shaft 63 extending transversely of the vehicle substantially as far as the upper side 18. Oscillation of said shaft controls the current in the manner that is well understood by those skilled' in the art. At the outer ends of the shaft 63 are the levers 64 ixedly connected to said shaft while intermediate the ends is the lever 65 also iixedlyconnectedto said'shaft. To the lever 65' at- 66 the bar 67 is 'pivotally congearing 4v"for "operative 'connection betweenr l i to actuate the controller.

nected, the upper end of said bar being pivotally connected at 68a to the bell crank controller lever 68 pivotally connected at 69 and provided with a grip within convenient reach of the operator when seated in the drivers seat 29.

Pivotally connected at 70 to each of the levers 64 1s the rearwardly extending connecting bar '71, the rear end of which is pivotally connected at 72 to a rear controller lever 73 pivotally connected at 74 t0 a suitably fixed portion of the vehicle, the lever 73 being withinconvenient reach of the operator when standing on the foot-board 28 and manipulating the corresponding rear hand wheel. It will thus be understood that whether the lever 68' or either of the levers 73 is operated the shaft 63 will be oscillated rlhe controller may thus be conveniently operated either from the drivers box or at either side of the rear end of the vehicle.

rlhe rear wheels are provided with brake 1 drums 75 upon the inner sides of which the 1 expanding friction shoes 76 are applied in 1 i nected to or formed integrally `with the sleeve 93, which is rotatably mounted upon the manner well known to those skilled in the art, said slices being actuated by movement of the levers 77 and 78 connected to acommon shaft, 77a journaled in an upper extension 7 7b formed integrally with the thrust frame 51 at the rear end thereof. The shoes 76 are pivotally connected at 7 8a to a similar lower f ment of the lever 90 will cause forward movement of the arm 94 and thus produce forward movement of the lever 87 whereby integral extension 7 8b of said thrust frame, the said shoes 76 being thus pivotally connected to each other and to the stationary portion 78. To the upper end of each lever 77 is pivotally connected a bar 79 which extends forwardly and is pivotally connected to an intermediate lever 80 between seat 29. l twill be understood that when the lever 90 is in the rearward position illusitrated in Fig. 1 the brakes will, so far as s said lever is concerned, be free or unlocked, it being possible, however, to temporarily apply the brakes by pressing forwardly the ends of the same. rlhe lower end of each lever 8O is pivotally connected at 81 to a stationary portion of the vehicle, as for instance the side 11, and to the upper end of said lever 80 is pivotally connected a bar 82, which extends forward to a point in front of the front end 12. Extending transversely, the yoke 83 is connected at its ends to the forward ends of the two bars 82, and substantially intermediate the ends of the yoke 83 the main 'brake rod 84 is connected thereto and extends forwardly.

Beneath the floor of the drivers box and extending transversely of the vehicle is the forward brake shaft 85 upon which is rotatably mounted the forward foot-brake-lever 86, the upper 'end of which extends through the Hoor of the drivers box into convenient position for operation by the foot of the operator. Formed integrally with thelever 86 is the oH-set, auxiliary lever 87, the upper end of which is provided with the aperture 88 through which the main brake rod 84 extends, said main brake' rod being provided at its forward end with the integral ball portion 89 adapted to be received into the socket-shaped forward edge of the aperture 88, as shown in Fig.l 6.

The aperture 88 permits the rod 84 to slide i forwardly therethrough as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, and as will hereinafter be more fully explained, but it will be understood that forward movement of the lever 86 will produce simultaneous forward movement of the' 'auxiliary lever 87, carrying forward the brake rod 84 when it is in the -osition illustrated. in full lines in Fig.

6. s will be understood from the descripthe shaft 85 and extends t'o the auxiliary lever 87, at which point said sleeve 93 is provided with the integral or ixedly connected off-set arm 94 adapted to engage the rear side of said lever 87, so that forward movethe rod 84 may be drawn forward by hand as well as by the foot, the upper end or grip of the lever 90 being within convenientreach of the operator when seated in the upon the lever 86 with the foot, and holding said lever forward with the foot so long as it is desired to apply the brakes. Should it be desired to lock the brakes the lever 90 is used so that the brakes may be applied and held while the operator leaves the vehicle, and will be held in locked position until release of the pawl 91 from the rack bar 92, as will be well understood. lt is desirable that the brakes may also be applied when the operator is at the rear end of the vehicle on the foot-board 28. To accomplish this each lever 78 is pivotally connected to a rearward extending bar 95 which bar is pivotally connected at its rear end to the upper end of a lever 96. Both of transversely extending rotatable shaft 97 which is provided intermediate its ends with the ixedly mounted pinion 98 meshing with 'said levers 96 are lixedly ,mounted upon the thevpinion 9.9 fixedly mounted u on the transverselyextending rotatable bra e shaft @On 'each' end; of@ the shaft.; 100 -is iXedly mounted 1 the.; lever Y.attaching member 101 provided. with an upward? extension having an outwardly .open-spring yreceiving aperture..102, and a downwardly-fand outwardly extending arm 103.1'. To l each of said .arms 103 is-pivotally connected. 'a rearffoot-brakelever .-104which is provided wthan' aperture adapted to slidingly receive-the fend of the shaft 100, fand provided also withv an in- `wardly extending toothbr. lug105 adapted press same to engage the teethof'the stationary frack 1064 The `spring 107 .in-'the aperture 102 bears against the lever 104'tonormallymain- `tain same in position free from the rack 106. The-operator may, however, place his foot uponi the `upper end, of the lever 104 and orward, rotating the brake shaft 100, thus rotating the `:pinions 981-fandv 99,

shaft 97 ,2 anddrawing Ibackward the 'in per i ends'of the levers 96thusidrawingthe ars4 95. backward `and, applyingthe brakes by a corresponding .backwardpmbvement ofthe cientlygsehif itfisdesired .to lockthe brake in. setfcondition sidewise ymovement ofy the foot of thev operator willthrow the lug105 into engagement with. one of the. teeth of the rack 106, pwhereupon the frictional engagement as. between said lug and "saidptooth will lovercome the tendencyof the, spring 107 to" push the lever 104 outwardly, andthe brakes will thus4 be -set until-.,-.the.l operator' intentionally moves the top of the lever 1'04 outwardly to free the vlug 105 from the said rack-106. .1 f

The operation of the device may be conveniently illustrated by assuming that. the vehicle is to,.be used for-the .purpose 4of delivcring milk in :the city. Gra-tes of bottles.

of Vmilk may be arranged upon the load carrying vfloors. 17 and the shelves 17a at the:

milk depot, vwhereupon the driver takes his place in thedrivers box and by manipulationof Ithe hand wheel 3 2, controller lever 68, foot-brake-lever 86. and hand brake lever I 90 drives the vehicle rapidly through the city to his allottedv district or sectiouof distributioln' .Having arrived at his'rst cus-v tomer he' leaves 4the drivers box, preferably descending the steps 27, and delivers the' bottles, returning to the 'vehicle and takingl his position on the foot-board 28 at-the rear end where, by-,manipulation of fthe 4hand wheel 48, 'controller lever 73 and foot-brakelever 104, on either side of the. vehicle, he

maydrive from residence to residence, thev vehicle beingunder perfect control and the driver'in position to quickly make deliveries upon arriving at his various customers. It.

will lthus be seen that the. vehicle may be controlled and operatedv from-any one of at either side at vthe rear of the vehicle.

\ going and return trips.l

It should be pointed out that a gasolene or other motor may be substituted for the electric motor for the purpose of propelling the vehiclefwhile at the same time retaining the principal advantages yand novel improvements of my invention. l

.Whil I have illustrated and described the best mode in which I have contemplated embodying my invention, I do -not desire to be limited tothe details of such disclosure, for

many changes may be. made as circumstances require. or: experiencezsuggests, without departing' fromy the spiritV of the invention, within the scope 'of the appended claims. -'I'claim:.--- ^`f 1 .1. A motor vihicleprovided with a' single l driversstation; :at the Llforward yendy thereof` and with aplurality. of drivers'stations at the rear endthereof, the `said stations atthe rear arranged. at the two sides of the-vehicle respectively,` and each of the stations provided -with guiding, controlling and braking means?. -f i' 2. A -motor vehicle provided atthe forward end with auf-'elevated drivers stationv 'equipped with; a .seat and guiding, controlling and v.braking...means :disposed `ior -manipulation -by the 'driver when -seated in said seat, -and anlowerA drivers station equippedA with aI transversely extending foot board. at the rear. osaid vehicle vand guiding, :controlling land braking means atfthe two :sides 'of the vehicle disposed for manipulation'by the 4drivervvhen standing' on said foot board. v I.

3. A.motor .vehicle provided with a load carrying portion having a' low level floor eX- tendingl longitudinally in thel midst thereof, a forward, 1 high level drivers station accessible from saidA floor and provided with a vseat and guiding, 'controlling' and braking means, anda rea-r low-level drivers station accessible from said Hoor and yprovided with guiding, controlling and brakingl means, said means being independently 'operable at either station.

4. In amotor vehicle, in combination with the mainframe, drivinglaxle and driving wheelsy thereon, thrust frames 'on the two sides of said'lmain frame and having their 'upper ends-connected to-said 'main-frame and. their lowerends vconnected to said axle, and an electrlcmotor and -transm1ss1on gear- .ing mountedupon each of` said`thrust frames, said transmission gearing on each frame consisting of a counter-shaft jourconnection between the seconds-sprocket and the driving wheel onv'thesame side of the vehicle. l i i 5. In a motor vehicle, in combination with the main frame, driving axle and driving wheels thereon, two .thrust frames arranged upon the two sides of said main lframe, re-

spectively, each thrust frame havingvoneend connected to saidmain frame and ltscother end`connected tosaid drivinaxle, and the:

intermediate portion of sai thrust frame constituting a motor and transmission gearing mounting portion, an independent motor and transmission gearing mounted on each of said thrust frames, the motor, transmission gearinoF and driving wheel on each side of the vehicle operatively connected together.

6. In a moto-r vehicle, in combination with the main frame and rear axle and drivingwheels thereon, thrust frames on the two= sides of the vehicle, each frame having its upper, forward end pivotally connected to the main frame and extending thence downwardly and thence rearwardly and connected to the rear axle, said frame provided at the rear end with an upper and lower extension, a brake drum and a driving sprocket connected'to the driving `wheel, `friction shoes operatively connected to said upper and lower extensions and adapted for rictional engagement with said brake drum, means for actuating said shoes and a motor and power transmitting mechanism mounted on said thrust frame, and having operative engagement with said driving sprocket, whereby both the driving and braking mechanism is mounted on the same integral frame.

7. In a motor vehicle, in combination with the main frame and rear axle and driving wheels thereon, thrust frames on the two sides of the vehicle, each frame connected to the main frame and extending thence to and connected to said rear axle, a motor and power transmitting mechanism mounted on said frame and having operative driving connection with the driving Wheel on the same side of the vehicle and braking mechanism connected to said frame and adapted for operative braking engagement with said wheel.

8. In a motor vehicle, in combination with the main frame and rear axle and driving wheels thereon, independent thrust frames on the two sides of said vehicle connected to said main frame and to said rear axle and an independent motor, power transmitting mechanism and braking mechanism 4 same .side of the vehicl mounted on each of said thrust frames, said' power transmitting', mechanism adapted to l transmit driving powerlfrontil,themotorf-to the wheel and the brakingimechanismfadapted to frictionally brake hel wheel"V nsthe 9..-InaJ motory vehicle, drivers station andi af*frearQ/lowerfdrivers station, -a motor' for driving ffsaidfvehicle, a controllery for controlling said.y` `motor,` said jcontroller rovidedHwith?arcontroller'rshaft,

levers fixe ly connected-'to-{fsaid shaftfand i ada pted, when ymoved,'to,"actuate; saidishaft,

connecting bars connectedto fsaidrleversfand extending te sindf,aimerait-andi:Sadfrer drivens stations, and manuallI operable levers at said stations connecte to said connecting bars and adapted, when actuated, to actuate said bars, levers and controller shaft.,

10. In a motor vehicle, a forward, elevated drivers station and two rear, lower drivers stations, one on each side of' the vehicle, a motory for driving said vehicle, a controller for controlling said motor, said controller provided with a controller shaft, extending transversely from side to side of said vehicle, said controller shaft, on one side of said vehicle, provided with a first and second lever fixedly connected and at the other side provided with a third lever also fixedly connected, first manually operable means at the :forward drivers station and a connecting rod connecting said first lever with said manually operable means, second and third manually operable means at the two rear stations, respectively, andconnecting means, extending along the two sides of the vehicle and operatively connecting said second and third levers with said second and third manually o erable means, whereby said controller sha t may be actuated from anyone of the three drivers stations.

' 11. In a motor vehicle, a drivers station and second and third drivers stations to the rear of said first station and at the two sides, respectively, of said vehicle, a motor for actuating said vehicle, a controller for said motor, manually operable means for actuating said controller at each of the three stations, and mechanical means operatively connecting each of said manually operable means and said controller.

l2. In a motor vehicle, a first drivers station and second and third drivers stations to the rear of said first station andv at the two sides, respectively, of said vehicle, steering means for said vehicle, including a transversely extending, rotatable common shaft, a first steerin post provided with a hand wheel at sai rst stat-ion and having operative connection with said shaft and second and third steering posts having operative connection with said shaft, extending to said second and third stations, respectively, and

forwardIelevatedvt 'means at the second and @vided with hand wheels 'at Said stations, whereby said common` shaft may; be actuated b rotation of any of said hand Wheels.Y

13. n a vehicle 4of.tth`e`.character described, provided withrst, second and third mechanism, a.v

drivers stations an'dlbifalng first pedally operable actuatmg .and manually operable' atuatin meansl atfzth'e 'first station, and two peday orable actuating 'rd'stations, respectively, and mechamcal -means operabl connectin al1 of said actuating means wit .said braking mechanism, all of said VApedally ond and third stations being operable with! ont-'actuating either pedally o r manually op- 1 erable means of the fufst station. -Intestlmonythat Ifclaimthe above, f1 20 have heieunto subscribed my lname in the witnesses.

presence of two LEROY' S. PFG

operable means, 15 

